Two partners of a construction works sub-contractor, charged by the ICAC, was each sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment at Tsuen Wan Court today (Wednesday) for offering bribes to a Highways Department (HyD) officer for speeding up the certification of co mpletion of works.

Leung Wing-bo, 64, Cheung Kwok-wing, 53, both partners of Sam Tai Construction Company (Sam Tai), were earlier found guilty of two bribery offences.

Magistrate Mr Leo Chan said immediate custodial sentences were warranted since bribing government officials was a serious offence.

The judge added that in sentencing, he had taken into account the defendants' clear records as well as their background and medical reports.

The court heard that in 1995, Wing Mou Construction Company Limited (Wing Mou) was awarded a term contract by HyD to perform its works orders for maintenance of slopes in Shatin, Sai Kung and outlying islands.

Wing Mou subcontracted the works orders on Lantau Island to Sam Tai.

Between 1995 and 1996, Leung and Cheung had offered bribes to Hau Tak-shun, Works Supervisor I of HyD, on a number of occasions for expediting the certification of completion of work to claim interim payments from the Hong Kong Government.

On each occasion, $5,000 cash was paid to Hau.

In January 1997, Wing Mou was awarded another term contract by HyD.

Leung and Cheung set up another company - Regal Asia (Hong Kong) Ltd., which was subsequently awarded a subcontract by Wing Mou to handle HyD works orders on Lantau Island.

In 1997, Leung and Cheung had also offered Hau, who was then Assistant Inspector of Works of HyD, a series of $5,000 cash payments for the same reason.

The prosecution was today represented by Lam Shun-chiu on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Winnie Fung Siu-wai.